Self-propelling torpedo.



H. w. SHONNAR D. SELF PBOPELLING TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED I'EB. 21, 1908.

973,141, 7 Patented Oct. 18, 1910.

UNITED s r Ar as HAROLD W. SHONNARD, OF EAST ORANGE, NEVJ JERSEY.

-' snLF-PnoPnLmnG ronrnno.

all whoni, it may concern: Be it known that I, HARoLn W. SHONNAIBD, a citizen of the United States, residing. in.

- EastOrange, county of Essex, and State of ent invention to remove.

New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Self-Propelling Torpedr e s, of which the following is a specification.

Self propelled submarine torpedoes have hitherto been driven by. engines impelled by compressed air, (in some cases after preliminary heating) which air is stored 1n a tank within the torpedo body.- Torpedoes of this type are. subject to several disadvantages which it is the object'of my pres- Among these are principally the following The containers for the compressed air ordinarily employed in supplying the power to drive torpedoes have to be made very large and of very great strength and weight inorderto con-' tain a suflicient volumeof air under adequate pressure for driving the torpedoes over .the length of range exacted by present regulations. One disadvantage -of these conditions vis found in the difliculty of handling and the necessity of using large and very expensive torpedoes. and a ver serious, disadvantage lies in the danger o a shot from the/enemy striking 'and fracturing one of these large air con-'-' talners' during an action. Such a contin gency would involve the immediate destruction of the vessel carrying the torpedo struck. Besides these difiiculties, conditions of modern warfare are continually U raising the standard of range, and the maximum range; attainable by thevlargest torpedoes is already insuflicient for many purposes.

Moreover, the torpedoes capable of covering a maximum range at adequate speed, are so large and clumsy as not to be capable of use on torpedo boats; being employed only on shore or on battle ships. I

It is the princi al object of my present inmention to provi e a form or torpedo equip-' ment wherebythere maybe attained a range I --of attack very considerably in excess of that hitherto possible for the very largest torpedoes;.and also to make it possible to use relatively small and inexpensive torpedoes for long range work. The advantages of these results, from the "point of view of economy, of ease and rapidity of operation,

and of-increase in attacking force on each torpedo boat are obvious.

Another,

detail.

The torpedoshell, as shown, comprises ing engine.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pai g'ntedoct, 18, 1910, Application filed li'ebruary 21, 1908. Serial m. 4174214.

Other advantagesinherent in certain pre ferred embodiments-pf my invention are the possibility of making sure that the driving engine is running properly before launching the torpedo-the silentstarting of the .engine to avoid alarming the enemy-and the use of a, form of fuel which avoids accidental explosion due to leakage within the torpedo body.

relatively small volume ofcom'bustion-sup- My invention contemplates the use of a porting gas under highpressure, and the utilization of the same with a proper flui'd fuel.preferably stored in liquld formso as to make availablethe energy due to chemical combination of the twoin an explosion engine- Thus a far greater storage of energy is possible than by merelyusing the elastic force of a compressed gas.

An. illustrative form of m invention isshown in the accompany ng drawings where1n Figure 1 a central longitudinal section I of that part of a torpedo. containing my in-' vention, the same being shown in starting position within its launching tube, a por-.

tion only of which is shown, F ig. 2 is a transverse section showing a somewhat modified form of engine and Fig. ,3 is a orward compartment, 1, contains the ex losible war-head and the storage tan for the combustion-supporting gas. Within the middle compartment, 2, is located thedriv- The rear compartment, 3,;supports the steering mechanism of known con} struction, propellers and driving shaft, as

"well as the storagejank for the fuel. Vhile the location of the two storage tanks in the positions shown is found convenient, it is not essential to my broad invention.

A four-cylinder engine is shown in the drawings, but of course a greater or a less number of cylindersmay be employed. In

any case, it is preferred to mount this engine so-that, it can be easily slid into and out of place, as a whole, through the rear end'of the middle compartment, when the rear portion 3 of theshell is removed, For this purpose I i provide two movablezsupportingspiders, 4 and 5 which fit within the shell 2, as shown, so as'to slide easily in and 'ou't. these supports, the engine is fixedby inea n s and aft bars 7, .united to the sides-of-theengine casing as by ribs 8. These ribs pass iovger theengine' and fit with-' in the "shell .2eso' as to slide thereinz-i ,yThe,

forward support, 4, abuts flat against a' solid transverse water-tight bulkhead 9, riveted and soldered to the 'shel1'2. This bulkhead is preferably rovided withfia circ ilar l i for accomp ishing water tight .union withzthe 'ShGHTSQCtIOH', 1; as shown.

The rear support 5, is preferably double, as,

shown, and occupies the rear, Opening vof the shell-section 2. It is provided with astrong hub 10, YVithin the forward end of the shellseot ion3 thereis proyideda'r'ing 1 1, permanently :fastenedin' place, and between whichand thesu'p'port 5 is: located the gas- 1 131 1 engine ,is' of .thel'internal' e fil i type,'one"forrn of which is deseribedherewaiter, and the main driven shaft thereof isshown at 13, provided at the rear end with "adriving .spur [gear wheel'l. The" gear l4' 'm'eshes with a pinion le -on the end of a short hollow transmission shaft 16 which finds its hearings in the hub 10, [The rear of the transmission shaft'16isprovided with one member 1 7 of a well known form of a/slidable clutch which engages with a suitable second clutch-member 18 on the forward end of the main hollow propeller shaft 19, The clutch is bestshown in Fig. 3.

Extending rearward,i the hollow shaft 19 passes through the annular storage tank 20 which contains the liquid fuel. producin' the fuel gasI-in the engine. Various wel jkfnow'n means forp'rope'rly feeding the fuel IO th'engine cylinders are within the scope of myflinvention, and in the illustrative form shown the liquid isstored in the-tank -20 'under considerable pressure, and the liquid "is delivered to the feed pipe 21 thr0,ugli the pressure reducing valve 22.. By

reason of the location and form of the tank 20, the liquid fuel twill always be permitted to oecupy. the lowest point, whatever the temporary rolling 'or lateral movement; of

the torpedo. Just back-of. the tank QO, the shaft 19 is provided witha beveled gear 23 which-codperates in a' well known manner with the gears2 l, 25, the sleeve 26 and-the oppositely slanted propeller blades 27 28 so shaft 19 extends. rearward a little beyond.

asf-to: drive the torpedo forward without exertinganytendenoy to turn it around its longitudinal axis; Rudder blades of well known character are shown "at 29. The

the bearing bracket 30, being providedwith a pinion 31, adapted to mesh with thezcrank- .ing pinion 32,-. when the tor edo is in-firin position Within; the launching tube one way-crankliwisis used to'turn the pinion 32, and is within reach of the gunner; This is used to? crank rtlie engine on the: start 5 While Ifhave f'shown the above described means whereby preliminary rotation is directly and manually imparted to the engine, j my ;;iny.ention covers "any means,- whereby the engine may be; started independently of motion of the torpedo body, and before the torpedo is launched. This-is a very important feature of my invention as less broadly" claimed,'-1because, owing to the uncertainty .of the starting of internal explosion engines, it is most desirable to make sure rthatthe driving engine is properly running before the torpedo is started out of the tube and be-.

fore it gets beyondgt-he eontrolofqthe guns-i.

net. It is clear that,itnwouldbexmost; dank,

gerous to launch a;

of-a'torpedo without-beingsure.that-its; propelling machinery was working" properly, a

and it i'st'o make itv possible to be sure of this that I have devised means for starting the engine before. launching the torpedo;

The tank ,35 in. the forward compartment contains the gas which, on mingling with the fuel supplied from the tank 20"within the cylinders of the engine 6, forms anexplosive mix'ture=; for driving the engine I prefer to use for this purpose oxygen gas adedvtorpedo in front;

which is stored :in fthetank 35 under a very considerable degree 'of. -;compression'. The

gas is preferably supplied through the re ducingvalve 36, to the feedpipe 37 leading to-the cylindersof theengine 6, as shown in Fig. 1. This reducing" valve, while lessen ing the degree of'pressure of the gas as com pared with itscondition within the tank 35 nevertheless; supplies. the .gas' tothe engine proximately 60 pounds to tl e -ineh; 1

under a considerable degreejof pressure,ia

The exhaustaegases. are discharged-from the engine as heretofore described and-"are 0 vcompartment '2'0f the torpedo shellfgtnd finally take exit through the hollow shafts preferably received first within the middle 16 and 19 at'the" rear of the torpedo.". The short hollow, shaft '16 is provided with a sliding check valve 38 which. prevents entrance of water into the compartment 2 and 'at the-same time allows exit ofthe-exhaust gases when they'lhave accumulated sufiiciently so 'that the pressurewhich they exert overcomes the pressure of water npon the valve.

In firing-the torpedo atemporary exhaust tube 39 is first inserted at the'rear end of the shaft 19 and the torpedo is placed within the launching tube .33 as shown,

bringing the expanded rear-en of the'tube 39 in position tofit'within' the; correspond ing depression in the breechof the launch- .ing tube from which depressionithe passage 40 leads to the .m-ufiling drum'el-through {1 v This is toinsure a" quiet exhaust on-the. start, whenthere 'is no The engineis revolves the shafts 19 and I6 and through the breech ofjtlie tube.

considerable back pressure. then started means of the crank 34; which the time of starting the 'and connecting 'rod 51.

them the main shaft of the engine 6. At

ower of the engine is greatly reduced y throttling the pressure of the gas from the tank 35 by means of any convenient valve as 42 in the pipe 37 As heretofore explained the supply of explosive mixture to the cylindersof' the engine depends upon the pressure of the gas from the tank 35.

The expression operating fluid in my claims is intended-to ap ly to either the fuel or the gas intended to e combined'with it within the cylinders.

The engine having started under low pressure and at low speed it leaves the launching tube 33 and the pressure created within the launching tube on firing, acting against the expanded head of the tube 39, causes said tube to' be left behind to be used again. 'As soon 41s the torpedo enters the water, the valve 42 isopened wide by the pressure of the water upon the pivoted lever orpaddle 43 which is forced backward by the water transmitting its movement through the shaft 44, the arm 45, the connecting rod 46 and the lever 47 to the valve 42.. i As soon as this is, accomplished full power-i is admitted to the engine and full speed ofgthe torpedo is rapidly attained. The use" of other automatic means for this purpose is within my'invention. In Fig. 2 is shown one form of a four cylinder engine which may be used in this connection, the same being shown in vertical section through onecylinder. The cylinder space is shown at 48 and within it slides the usual piston 49 connected to the main shaft 13 by crank 50 The inlet and ex haust ports are at'the top of the cylinder 48 as is also the spark gap 52. The exhaust is controlled by;the puppet valve '53 which is normally held to its seat by the spring 54 and when raised allows the exhaust to pass from the cylinder- 48 through the opening 55 to the space within the shell 2 outside of the engine as heretofore described. The ex haust valve is controlled by a cam'56 upon and 6 1. The spark at 52 is produced by i the battery 62 and spark coils 63, the circuit being closed for each cylinder of the engine in succession me well known manner by the commutator 64 which is revolved by pinion 65 which meshes with the pinion 59.

The. fuel (preferably gasolene or ...liquid acetylene) is admitted at the opening 66, and is led to a circular groove 67 in the seat of p. puppet'valve 68-normally held down by the spring 69, which valve controls admission ofthe fuel to the cylinder 48.

The compressed oxygen or other appropriate gas is led through theopening 70 to the upper side of the puppet valve 71 Whose.

stem 7 2 passes through a stuffing box 73 and impinges upon an operating lever 74 which is provided with a roller 75 at its outer end and is pivoted to the engine at 76. The roller '75 rests upon an operating cam 77 which is revolved by the pinion 78 driven by means of the pinions60 gen after passing through thevalve opening at'71- is'led by the passage 80 to the under side of the valve 68. Being under considerable pressure, the gas lifts the valve 68'and,-.-1 as it rushes into the cylinder '48 carries with it the fuel contained in the groove 67 in the valve seat. As shown in Fig. 2 the valve 71 is opened by means of the le 78! 74 which is lifted when the cam 77 raises the.roller 75. .This occurs immediately after the valve 53' has been allowed to close by the cam 56.

With the parts in the position shown at Fig. 2 the combined oxygen and fuel will rush into the space above the piston 49 and will be therein contained in a state of con siderable compression. A moment later the cam 7 7-will drop the roller 75 and lever 74 and the spring 81 will close the valve 71 which will be held to its seat by the ressure' behind it. The pressure being equa ized on the valve 68, the spring 69 .will close it and, as the explosion immediately takes place within, the cylinder 48 the pressure created and 79. The oxywill hold, the valve 68 firmly to its seat.

,This operation takes place in the different cylinders of the engine successively in a well known mannen It will be seen that bysupplying the gas to the engine under high com ression I am able to get a complete cycle 0 operation in each cylinder for everyrevolutmn of the shaft 13, as the pistons 49 do not have to be used for compressing the gases of combustion. This enables me to obtain a very high power in a comparatively small engine and thus reduces the space required for accommodating the engine within the torpedo body. I obtain a further gain in power in proportion .to the space occupied by preferably using oxygen gas instead of air within the tank 35 and by means of these expedients I get a vastly increased range of -move-.

so increasing the welght and size of the en-' gine as to impair the buoyancy of a torpedo.

of standard size.

In certain of my claims herem I have claimed means for supplyingthefuel-separately from the combustion-supporting gas. This is intendedto express the fact that the combustion-supporting gas and fuel are not originally mixed, but are brought separately to the engine to be there mixe before introduction into the working cylinders.

In. some cases it will bebest to supply the explosion engine with a water-cooling jacket, although thls is not always essential and 115 ment for the self-propelling torpedo without.

adds to the weight of the torpedo. When; [-to saidv engine, means for separately sup-65 such a jacket is used, I prefer to make the plying fuel thereto, a mixing valve for commovement of the torpedo through the sea bining said gas and fuel, and means for cause the requisite circulation of water causing said valve ,to, form ,fiappmpriate 5 throughthe jacket. In the drawings I show quantities of said "combined.= gas landdfuel the jacket at 82-, and in order to produce foreach explosion in. said /engine,;s1ibstan%70' water circula'tionthrough the same, I use a tiallyas described.--

:ri' pipe 83 .to lead the sea water from a point 5. In combination with 'a torpedo body, forward of the engin into the lower part of an internal explosion. engine within the the jacket, while, from the upper part of the same, a propeller, a propeller shaft there-.

jacket at the rear of the engine, I lead the for 0 eratively connected ;to said engine, a 75 water out to the sea again by the ,pipe 84. launching tube, a crank having adriven By reason of the location and inclination of shaft passing through the breech of' said the pipes 83, 84, the circulation of water is tube, and means whereby movement of'sa-id' set up. crank is imparted to said; propeller shaft-,-

W'hat I claim is a substantially as described. I y 380' 1. In combination with a self-propelled 6. In combination'with a torpedo-body, submarine torpedo body, and a propeller an internal explosion engine, anyannular therefor, an internal explosion engine optank containing liquid fuel behind said eneratively connected to said propeller 'comgine, a propellerjshaft connected to said prising cylinders and means for producing engine and extending rearward, through '85 explosions in each cylinder, a reservoir of said tank, and a propeller on said shaft, subnoninfiammable combustion-supporting gas stantially'as described. stored under high pressure independently 7. In a submarine torpedo,-'a shell comof the operation of the engine, means for posed of two separate sections one behind supplying such gasat proper intervals unthe other, a drivingengine arranged to be 90 de r compression to the engine, and means sli'd'freely'into and out of the more forward for separately supplying fuel to said engine, of the two sect-ions, a short shaft permae substantially as described. nently geared to said engine, apropellershaft,

2. In combination with a self-propelled carried by the rear section, a clutch forconsj submarine torpedo body and a propeller nect-ingthe two'shafts, and means for contherefor, an internal explosion en ine opnecting the twoshell sect-ions in a watereratively connected to said propel er comtight manner, substantially as described.v prising cylinders and means for producing S. In combination with a torpedo body,a

explosions in each cylinder at every revolupropeller therefor, an internal ex losion ention thereof, a reservoir of non-inflammable gine operatively connected to sai propeller, 100 combustion-supporting gas stored under a launching. tube a Inufiler, and means for high pressure independently of the opera-'- connecting the exhausto'f said enginewith -12 .tion of the engine,- means for supplying said mufiler when thetorpiedo is jin place in I 40 such gas at proper intervals under co'm- "said tube, substantially as described.

pression-to the en ne, and means for sepa- $9. In combination 'wlth'a torpedo body,-'a 105 rately supplying e1 to said engine, sub propeller therefor, an-internal explosion'enstantially as described. 4 gine operatively connected to said propeller,

, 3. I n combination vwith a self-propelleda launching tube,"a mufller, and removable '45'submarine torpedo bod and a propeller means adapted to be inserted intothejtortherefor, an internal'ex l osion engine opera pedo body for eonnectin 'the exhaust of 110 tively connected to said propeller comprissaid engine with said mu er when the toring cylinders and means for producing expedo is in lace in said'tube, substantially plosions in each'cylinder, means for s'upas described: p, v 7 i .l v

plying a combustion supporting gas under 10. In combination with'atorpedo body,,a-.

compression to said engine, means for sepapropeller having a 'hollow 'shaft," an internal .115 f rately supplying fuel thereto, a mixin explosion engine for-driving'said shaft, and valve for combining said gas and fuel, and" arranged to exhaust into said shaft a means for causing said valve to form approlaunching tube having an opening In ts priate quantitiesof said combined gas and breech, a mufiler;communicating with sa dy fuel for each explosion in said en ine. i openi g, ands removable tube'fittrng wlvhl ii I20 4. In combination with a self propell'ed the propeller land over said openmg'in'; submarine torpedo body and a propeller breech, substantiallyas descr1bed.

, therefor, an internal explosion engine "op- 11. In eombinationjwith a torpedo body,

eratively connected 'to'said propeller conr propeller having ahollow shaft, an 1ntq f f;

- prising cylinders and means forproduc'ing :explosionenginefor driving sald 'sliaftfan d. I:

explosions'in'ea'chcylinder at, every 're'volu exhausting .mto'lthe same, a launch ng tube tion thereof, means for su plying a. 'coin' 5. having an opening ts breec a' mntllebustionrsupporting"gas un er compression communicating with said opening, and aremovable tube fitting over said opening and held to its seat by the gas pressure, a passageway between said valves and means operated by the engine for positively opening the gas admission valve at proper intervals, substantially as described; V

13. In combination with a submarine torpedo body and a propeller therefor, an internal explosion engine operatively connected to said propeller, a speed controlling device for said engine, and means operated automat ically by movement of said torpedo body for actuating said speed controlling device to increase the speed of said engine, subst-antially as described, 1 let. in combination with a submarine torpedo body and a propeller therefor, an internal explosion engine operatively connected to said propeller, a supply of fluid fuel within said torpedo body, a supply of compressed cap-able of forming an explosivemixture With said l'uel also within said torpedo body, means for conveying said fuel and gas to said engine, a cooling jacket on said engine, and means for leading Water into-said acket from the sea and for discharging said water into the sea after it has passed through said jacket, substantially as described.

15. In combination With a submaiane torpedo body and a propeller therefor, ,an j'nternal explosion en 'ne operativel'y connected to said rope ler, a supply of fluid fuel within sai torpedo body, a'supply of compressed gas capable of forming an exploslve mixture wlth said fuel also Within said torpedo body, means for conveying said fuel and gas to said engine, a cooling 1acket on said engine, a leading-in pipe extending from said acket to an openlng into the sea forward of the jacket, and a discharge pipe extending from the opposite end of the jacket to an opening into the sea aft of said jacket, substantially as described.

16. In combination with a torpedo body, a

propeller, an internal explosion engineoperatively connected to' said propeller, a launching tube, a mother, and removable means for connecting the exhaust of Said engine with said mufllcr when the torpedo is in place in said tube, substantially as described.

17. In a torpedo, and in combination, a propeller, a supply of compressed combustion-supporting gas and an internal eXplo-' sion engine operatively connected to said propeller and comprising a valve normally 7 held to its seat by said compressed gas, and

means for opening said valve to admit said to said engine at proper intervals, substantially as described.

HAROLD W. SHONNARD, \Vitnesses:

H. S. MACKAYE, M. A. Burma. 

